Criticism from Within

This article argues that the demand for a more ethnic-sensitive interpretation of the Pauline letters - which is brought forward repeatedly by »Paul within Judaism« scholars - should be accompanied with the same sensitivity for inner-Jewish variety. Seeing Paul »within Judaism« does not necessarily imply that he was without any form of critique against some of his fellow Jews or against some Jewish convictions. This is exemplified with respect to Paul's statements in Gal 2:19. Taking the variety of Second Temple halakah for granted, there seems no need to apply Gal 2:19 either to all Jews or to none of them. Rather, the phrase »I have died to the law« in Gal 2:19 creates an inclusio with the beginning of Paul's biographical argumentation in Gal 1:13-14. In both instances, Paul refers to his own understanding of the Torah. The criticism of the Torah implied here is not a fundamental criticism of the Torah in general but a criticism of the halakic convictions of some Jews, including Paul's own past.